Portable sun and wind shield



May 12, .1959 L. F. HEALY PORTABLE SUN AND WIND SHIELD 5 Sheets-Sheet lFiled April 12, 1956 INVENTOR.

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Filed April 12, 1956 1959 1.. F. HEALY PORTABLE SUN AND WIND SHIELD May12,

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 12, 1956 VENTORL 195/74 4 lay/v0 PORTABLESUN AND WIND SHIELD Leland F. Healy, Long Beach, Calif.

Application April 12, 1956, Serial No. 577,841

4 Claims. (Cl. 135-5) This invention relates to a portable canopy orshade adapted to be erected temporarily on a beach, lawn or otherout-of-door surface as a shield against the sun and Wind for one or morepersons seated or resting thereunder.

It is an object of this invention to provide a sun and wind shield ofthe character described which, when not in use, may be rolled upsimilarly to a window shade and parts thereof folded to form a compactpackage subject to being readily and easily stored, transported andhandled and as readily unrolled and set up for use.

It is another object to provide a sun and wind shield such as described,which includes a novel means for temporarily anchoring the shield in anerected position in the ground or to the surface over which it isdesired to provide a protective canopy.

Another and important object is to provide a canopy or shield such asdescribed wherein legs for anchoring the shield element in an erectedposition are arranged in a novel manner so as to be movable between afolded and retracted position lying in small compass alongside theshield element when the latter is rolled up, and an unfolded andextended position whereby the legs may be pushed into the ground orotherwise anchored thereto or to the surface over which the shieldelement is erected.

It is another object of this invention to provide a portable shield suchas described which may be set up at various elevations over a person orpersons lying or seated thereunder as well as angularly adjusted, bestto serve as a sun and wind shield.

Further it is an object to provide a device such as described whereinthe flexible shield element may be transparent, opaque or translucentand made of cloth or plastic materials as desired, and will be securelyheld under tension as a protective canopy or shield when in use.

I will describe only one form of portable sun and wind r shieldembodying my invention, and will then point out the novel featuresthereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sun and wind shield embodying thepresent invention shown in one position of use in full lines and inanother position of use in dotdash lines;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device shown in Fig. 1, as it wouldappear in a different position of use than shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the sun shade in rolledup and collapsedposition of non-use;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary, part sectional and part elevationalview of the device as when in the rolledup and collapsed position shownin Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the main joint of one of the telescopicand extensible legs;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 4;

United States Patent-O Fig. 8 is an elevational view of one of the legsas fully 1 extended from the leg housing, with one end of the latterbroken away and in section to show the detent means for preventingdetachment of the leg from the housing.

Fig. 9 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of one end of themain housing for the roll-up type shield element of the device;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the other end of the mainhousing;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view partly in section of one ofthe joints in the telescopic legs of the device; and

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11.

One embodiment of the present invention as shown in the accompanyingdrawings includes an elongated flexible shield or shade element 1 and aspring-loaded roller 2 on which the element 1 may be wound and unwound.An elongated supporting means or housing 3 serves as a support for theroller 2 and is provided with means 4 for anchoring the housing to theground or surface over which the shield element 1 is to be extended as acanopy or shade for one or more persons. On the free end of the shieldelement 1 is means 5 for securing the element to the ground or othersurface over which the shield element is extended as a canopy or shadefor example as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The shield element 1 may be made of? any opaque or translucent cloth orplastic material of any suitable colors or made of a transparent plasticmaterial which is treated or colored to filter out objectionable rays ofthe sun, provided the material used, in any case will be flexible andcapable of being rolled upon and unrolled from the roller 2.

t The supporting means or housing 3 for the roller 2 may be in anysuitable form to serve as support for the roller and as a body by whichthe device, as a compact package, readily may be carried, stored ortransported. The housing 3 is provided with a slot 6 extending the fulllength thereof to provide for extension and retraction of the shieldelement, and is formed as a tube of light material, such as aluminum ora plastic having a strength and durability somewhat comparable toaluminum, or similar light metal.

As a means for supporting the spring-loaded roller 2 in the housing 1 sothat the roller will function in the same manner as a conventionalwindow-shade roller, portions of the material forming the housing at oneend of the latter are struck inwardly to form ears 7 to which a crosspiece 8 is welded or rigidly secured by any suitable manner (see Fig.9). This cross piece is provided with a round opening 9 for reception ofthe usual rotatable trunnion 10 on one end of the roller 2. The housing1 at its other end (see Fig. 10) is provided with similar ears 11 towhich a cross piece 12 is detachably secured by means of fasteners suchas screws 14. The cross piece 12 is provided with an opening 15 ofnon-circular cross-section for reception of the similarly shapedtrunnion 16 (see Fig. 4) on the other end ofthe roller 2. Caps 17 areremovably mounted on and close the open ends of the housing 3. Thisarrangement makes it possible readily to mount in the housing 3 theroller 2 with the shield element 1 fastened thereto and rolled thereon.Should it be desired to change the roller 2 and element 1 thereon forsubstituting a shield of a different kind of material or of differentcolor, this may be accomplished by detaching one of the caps 17 and thecross piece 14 and replacing them after the substitution is made.

It should be noted that no details of the spring-loaded roller 2 arehere shown, except the trunnions 10 and 16 and spring 16a, it beingunderstood that the roller emrangement as provided in a conventionalwindow-shade roller, whereby the flexible element 1 will be retainedinany position in which it is unrolled and is subject to being rewound bymanipulation in the same manner as a window-shade. However, when theanchoring means on the free end of the shield element 1 is engaged withthe ground as a support for the element, theelement willbe held inextended position, and is subject to being rewound on the roller 2 onlywhen the anchoring means 5 is free from holding or anchor contact withthe ground. The retention of the element 1 in any position to which itmay be unrolled from the roller 2 is desirable to prevent rewinding ofthe element While setting up the means 5 for supporting the shieldelement.

The means 4 on the housing 1 for anchoring the housing to the ground orother surface over which the shield is to be extended, includes a pairof telescopic legs 18. These legs are mounted in a tubular housing 19extending along the side of the housing 1 opposite the slot'6. Thehousing 19 is secured to the housing 3 by means of suitable straps 20and a bracket 20a fixed to the housing 3. When fully retracted, the legs18 are contained in the housing 19 with only the outer ends thereofprotruding somewhat therefrom, but preferably not beyond the ends of themain housing 1, whereby these protruding ends may be grasped forextending the legs into position of use.

Each of the legs 18, as here shown, comprises two tubular sections 22and 23 telescopically connected, and rod section 24 telescopicallyconnected with the section 23. The larger and inner leg section 22 isprovided at its inner end with a plug 25 having a bifurcated outer endhinged as at 26 to a lug 27 on a cylindrical mounting plug 28 rotatablyand slidably mounted in the-housing 19. A detent member 29 on thehousing 19 is operable to prevent withdrawal of the mounting plug 28from the housing but will permit of rotation of the plug 28 when the leg18 is inclined from the vertical in a direction normal to the axis ofthe plug 28 and housing'19, the leg being otherwise free to be inclinedby reason of the hinge connection with the plug 28.

As a means for holding the leg sections 22, 23 and 24 against movingaxially from any position in which they may be extended relative to oneanother, the outer ends of the sections 22 and 23 are tapered andprovided with axially extending slits 30. These ends are externallyscrew threaded to receive nuts 31 having tapered bores. When the nuts 31are tightened, the portions between the-slits 30 act as clamping jaws tobind against the sections 22 and 23 respectively, and hold them againstaxial movement.

A tubular member 33 is fixed to the freeend of the shield element 1 inany suitable manner and serves as a support for the shield as well as ahousing for telescopic legs 34 corresponding to the legs 18. The legs34-are mounted in and adjustable relative to the member 33 in the samemanner as the legs 18 connected with housing 19. Figs. 1 and 2 show howthe legs 34 and 18 may be arranged to anchor and supportthe shieldelement 1 and associated parts in various positions.

The bracket 20a is located centrally of theends ofthe main housing 3 andis U-shaped to serve as a means for pivotally connecting thereto aninverted U-shaped handle 36 by which the device, while in collapsedposition as shown in Fig. 3, readily may be carried.

When the device is in folded or'collapsed position, as shown in Figs. 3,4 and 6, the member 33 to which the free end of the shield element 1 issecured; lies against the main housing so as to extend partly into. theslot 6 (Fig. 6). The device new forms a compact package subject to beingreadily carried or stored.

in erecting or setting up the device foruse, .the legs;.18 are pulledout of the housing.19.for example, to the position shown in Fig. 8 sothat the telescopic sections 22, .23 and 24 may be extended as desiredand the section 24 pushed into the ground to anchor the device in theground. Following this the legs may be adjusted to support the adjacentend of the element 1' at the desired elevation. The hinge connection ofthe legs 18 with the rotary mounting plugs 28 makes it possible toadjust the legs to any desired angular position relative to the verticalbest to anchor and support the device relative to the ground. In casethe device is set up over a hard surface which cannot be penetrated bythe legs'18, any suitable means not shown may be employed to fasten oranchor the legs to such a surface.

After anchoring the legs 18, as above noted, the tubular member 33 ispulled out, thereby unrolling the shield element 1 from the roller 2,either the full extent or less than the full extent, best to suit theconditions at hand and the particular user. Next, the legs 34 in themember 33 are pulled out and adjusted as desired (see Figs. 1 and 2) toprovide for anchoring the element 1 in place and at the desired elevatedposition. The hinged and rotary connection of the legs 18 and 34 withthe members 19 and 33 make it possible to incline the legs as desired insupporting the shield element 1. Fig. 1 shows how the shield 1 may besupported in positions variously inclined longitudinally thereof and atdifferent elevations, or supported in a horizontal position. Fig. 2shows how the shield 1 may be inclined transversely as desired.

I claim:

1. A portable sun and wind shield comprising: an elongated flexibleshield element for shielding from the sun and wind one or more personsseated or resting on the ground or other surface over which said elementmay be extended; a roller to which one end of said element is connectedso that said element may be rolled upon said roller and unrolledtherefrom; a support on which said roller is 'rotatably mounted; saidsupport extending alongside said roller; legs connected with the otherend of said element for supporting said element above said ground orother surface when unrolled from said roller; members connected withsaid support for sliding movement axially of the support and rotativemovement relative to the support; a pair of legs; and means hingedlyconnecting said last named legs with said members.

2. A portable sun and wind shield comprising: an elongated flexibleshield element for shielding from the sun and wind one or more personsseated or resting on the ground or other surface over which said elementmay be extended; a roller to which one end of said element is connectedso that said element may be rolled upon said roller and unrolledtherefrom; a support on which said roller is rotatably mounted;anchoring means for said support connected thereto for sliding movementtherealong and rotative movement relative thereto; and means connectedwith the other end of said element slidable transversely of said elementas well as rotatable relative thereto for movement into and frompositions supporting said element above said ground or other surface.

3. A portable sun and wind shield comprising: an elongatedflexibleshield element for shielding from the sun and wind one or morepersons seated or restingon the ground or other surface'over which saidelement may be extended; an elongated roller to which one end of saidelement is connected so that said element may be wound upon saidrollerand unwound therefrom; an elongated housing in which said roller issupported; extensible legs for supporting said housing above the groundor surface over which said element may be extended; means providing aswivel connection between each of said legs and said housing; a tubularmember secured to and extending across the other end of said element;extensible legs for supporting saicllast named member; members slidablymounted in said tubular member and rotatable relative thereto; andmeanspivotallyconnecting said last named legs with'said slidably mountedmembers.

4. A portablesun and windshieldcomprising: an elongated flexible shieldelement for shielding from the sun and wind one or more persons seatedor resting on the ground or other surface over which said element may beextended; an elongated roller to which one end of said element isconnected so that said element may be wound upon said roller and unwoundtherefrom; an elongated housing in which said roller is supported; saidhousing having a slot through which said element is extensible; atubular member mounted on said housing; extensible legs; means slidablerelative to said tubular member providing a swivel connection betweensaid legs and said tubular member; said legs being movable between aposition lying within said tubular member and a position extendedtherefrom to support said housing above the ground or surface over whichthe flexible element may be extended; a tubular member secured to andextending across the other end of said element; extensible legs; andmeans slidable relative to said last named tubular member providing aswivel connection between said last named legs and said last namedtubular member; said last named legs being movable between a positionlying within said last named tu bular member and a position extendedfrom said last named tubular member as a support therefor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS136,456 Petersen et al Mar. 4, 1873 1,157,115 McIntyre Oct. 19, 19151,719,055 Herzer July 2, 1929 2,660,186 Marshall et al Nov. 24, 1953

